Method of providing user interface in a portable terminal

Abstract

A method of providing a user interface for invoking a function related with a state indicator in a portable terminal where an altered state representation of the state indicator is displayed when a predetermined change occurs in the state representation of the state indicator is disclosed. According to the method, the related function is registered for the state indicator when a state change to be reflected in the representation of the state indicator occurs and the state representation of the state indicator is altered. In this state, upon receipt of a touch input for a state indicator display area on a screen, a state indicator window for displaying a state indicator after enlarging the state indicator is displayed on the screen. Upon receipt of a user input for designating the state indicator displayed on the state indicator window, the registered function is invoked.

1 . A method for providing a user interface for invoking a function related to a state indicator in a portable terminal displaying the state indicator indicating a state change on a screen of a touch screen input/output device, the method comprising the steps of:
 registering the related function for the state indicator corresponding to an occurrence of a state change when a state change to be reflected in the representation of the state indicator occurs;   altering the state representation of the state indicator corresponding to the occurrence of the state change;   if there is a touch input for a state indicator display area on the screen, displaying on the screen a state indicator window containing at least one enlarged state indicator and displaying the at least one enlarged state indicator thereon; and   invoking the registered function upon receipt of an input for designating a state indicator displayed on the state indicator window.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user input indicating the state indicator is a touch screen input for a representation area of the state indicator. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input indicating the state indicator is a button input in a state where a cursor or an input focus is located in a representation area of the state indicator. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the state indicator indicates at least one of a message arrival, an alarm setting, a setting of a vibration mode, and a Bluetooth communication connection.